“ Friend, it’s already baked in. Our debt and unfunded mandates, like Social Security and medicare simply cannot be provided to the ultimate beneficiaries in a way that meets their expectations”
So many Republicans on this site and elsewhere denounce Social Security or say it has to be cut - and then complain when the Democrats tell voters that the GOP opposes Social Security and intends to cut it. That’s called cognitive dissonance
“...So many Republicans on this site and elsewhere denounce Social Security or say it has to be cut ...”
What I’ve seen and heard for decades is that annual INCREASES in Social Security and extensions of coverage to illegals, etc. should be decreased, which the left takes as “Cuts,” and that social security should be optional for YOUNGER/YOUNG workers (who would instead have their SS deductions placed into historically much-higher return PRIVATE investments), while maintaining SS coverage for those already retired or about to retire.
Gingrich’s “wither on the vine” comment was perfect in that regard—with private options, who would want to stay with poorly-performing and shrinking SS, the program would wither on the vine and die (like a tomato with a root no longer drawing moisture from the ground). https://archive.thinkprogress.org/newt-gingrichs-opponents-accused-him-of-wanting-medicare-to-wither-on-the-vine-because-that-s-what-48f80f5cbae5/
There is also cognitive dissonance when erstwhile freedom loving americans insist on socialism.
Look, I’m as compassionate towards people who are reaching their older years as anybody could wish. Being a fledgling oldster myself, it’s a daunting prospect to be “thrown to the wolves” with no assistance as an elderly person.
I could be completely wrong, but the consequences of our financial situation are dire, and they are likely.
At a minimum you and your friends/family who expect to rely upon social security and medicare should at least consider what you might do if those (and other) programs effectively end. How will you feed yourself, how will you procure needed meds, where will you live, and what sort of life do you want versus what is realistic. You will need help, and if you don’t get it, life will be very hard.
Unfortunately, there is no simple political solution. Resolve to prioritize one expenditure over another will also not solve the problem. I agree that all unnecessary spending must cease - but to the jackals in the federal bureaucracy and congress - spending is an opportunity to skim off some for them and their kith and kin. This is the problem that is driving us over the cliff. Those that live off of government are far too often thieves. Since they are never going to be held accountable by fellow thieves in the DOJ, we are left with one option - default. And default we shall have.
Will there be anything left for you in your golden years? Nobody can say. You certainly should not have that expectation. That’s where friends, family, community come in, if you are lucky.
That’s the thing. Not everyone is going to be lucky. But sitting back and threatening to vote for one party versus the other is not going to ensure anything other than (at best) a cursory fix for an impossible problem.
The bureaucratic/WEF/elite solution is for you to die before you consume resources needed to have you live a decent, dignified life. That’s what they want - for you to die.
It’s depressing if you are unable or unwilling to do anything to live a dignified life in old age.
Vote as you wish. It will change nothing. Socialism always fails, and we are socialists now.